Great to hear from our Director @debcairns.bsky.social on some of the ways working in partnership has helped to influence change to improve the health & wellbeing of people with #learningdisabilities

Talking Mats creates ethical, rights based practice by reducing power imbalances, challenging assumptions about ability & ensuring decisions reflect the persons views #oureverydayrights #humanrightsday #humanrights2025 #supporteddecisionmaking www.talkingmats.com/supported-de...

Loving the new symbols from our new energy project #fuelpoverty #renewables #easyread

Still proud of the Keeping Safe @talkingmats.bsky.social we developed. Thanks to Scottish goverment monies it was tested with over 700 people. Years later I remember the stories. Providing a space for people to reflect , talk and then really listen to them is key to good #safeguarding practice

Word of the day is ‘quockerwodger’ (19th century): a puppet politician whose strings are pulled entirely by someone else.

Last couple of days to cast your vote for #ResearchforEveryone to win the public vote for #KEAwards25! Refresh your memory of our inclusive communication project with a quick watch of one of the co-produced animations bit.ly/44lfu8G and don't forget to vote via ke.org.uk/ke-awards-20...

Brilliant blog by Gerard Wainwright on the impact of @talkingmats training on his #autism and his communication skills

British.

📢 Speaker announcement - Dr Jill Bradshaw Jill's session is titled "Talking Mats in research and practice" Consultant Speech & Language Therapist; RCSLT National Clinical Adviser for Learning Disabilities; Jill founded the @talkingmats.bsky.social Research Network Book your free space now 👇👇

Looking forward to presenting our new spirituality Talking Mats Resource on the 6th Nov @autismtheology.bsky.social conference . Book your space now #interfaith #autism

‘Borders chief can’t name a way Brexit has helped UK control its borders’ Brexit is squarely on Farage, and the Tories, hence why they’ve moved on to saying it’s actually the ECHR that’s the problem, so we should leave that now too.

😍 #WestLothian #SpokesMap 2025 is here!! INFO--> www.spokes.org.uk/2025/10/west... Launched by MP @kittysull1.bsky.social & Deputy Provost #PeterHeggie 🤩 See Special Offer [ends 31 Oct] @edi.bike @thecockburn.bsky.social @edinreporter.bsky.social @edinburghminute.bsky.social @edfoc.bsky.social

Congratulations to our new Licenced Trainers! These talented individuals are now licenced to train others within their teams in Talking Mats. We look forward to hearing how you all get on. For more information on becoming a Talking Mats Licenced Trainer please contact [email protected]

#WorldMentalHealthAwarenessDay2025 Find some inspiration in our top 10 Mental Health blogs. www.talkingmats.com/top-mental-h...

Coexist -Came across this water fountain on a walk in Cape Ferrat today If you look hard the C is a Muslim moon , the X is the Jewish star and the T is the Christian cross - a message that is never more needed in the world today

Are you using or planning to use Talking Mats in research? Then you'll want to read this month's Research Spotlight. #CommunicationResearch

Very proud of Nima starting his #ultracycle for #palestine via @medicinesanfrontiers Hope the weather is kind and if you do have some money to spare . He would appreciate a donation www.justgiving.com/page/nima-kh...

There’s a HUGE Elon Musk shaped hole in the Government’s new plans to improve our elections: shady billionaires like Musk can still donate massive amounts of money with no cap: effectively buying our democracy. Add your name to call for a cap on donations today: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/ta...

BLOG, 2nd in our series on rehabilitation. What does rehabilitation in dementia mean to me as a speech & language therapist? ‘Rehabilitation is a big word with a range of nuanced meaning for all involved. As a speech and language therapist …..’ letstalkaboutdementia.wordpress.com/2025/09/18/w...

Been great working with @forceschildscot.bsky.social to produce this bespoke Talking Mats resource to allow children & young people space to express their thoughts on being in a family where a parent serves in the forces forceschildrenscotland.org.uk/news/success...

For anyone in #Stirling a new community hub drop in has opened on a Wednesday. Come for soup, cuppas and surplus food to take away All welcome at Queen Street Methodist church 11- 1 .This week lots of tomatoes,blueberries, potatoes,bread, courgettes,noodles filled take away bags Reduce #foodwaste

A new mural by elusive street artist Banksy showing a judge beating an unarmed protester with a gavel will be removed from a wall outside one of London’s most iconic courts /AP

Great time working with my son, Joe on a business strategy for his brilliant app, Squiddity. This approach helped him get his health back. Now he’s making a gentle &motivating app to help others integrate the strategies that help them become part of daily life. squiddity.app #chronicconditions

Are you trained in Talking Mats and interested in taking part in a pilot study for our new Resource; Spirituality? This Resource aims to open up conversations around Spirituality with people with Learning Disabilities / Autism. Full details in today's blog www.talkingmats.com/opportunity-...

Nigel Farage is about to give evidence to the US Congress on threats to free speech in the UK. So here's one for him: Reform UK has just banned me (and @thenewworldmag.bsky.social) from attending its party conference this weekend. www.thenewworld.co.uk/james-ball-w...

Next Wednesday 10th Sept 11am to 1pm all are welcome to the Queen Street community hub for a free cuppa , bowl of soup and bag of food - thanks to Fairshare Scotland, and local food shops. A welcoming space with a green, no waste purpose. Please share with any #stirling folk that maybe interested

As the #communicationmatters conference approaches there are lots of good memories of working with Lucia & presenting with her there. She had huge insight into #augcomm and I loved working with her on the @talkingmats Inclusion & diversity resource . Her early sudden passing is so sad.

Over 60% of young people in prison have #DevLangDis #IALP2025

One third of wounded in #Gaza are children - what a terrible , shameful statistic . This must stop ✋ www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...

📚 “Some people with learning disability aren’t challenged, because there’s an expectation we can’t learn.” Meet Aaron—a student, campaigner, and human rights defender breaking barriers in education. 🧠💬 Read more: zurl.co/qkobU

Delighted to hear about Sarah Ezekiel’s voice on the news- a brilliant use of AI to recreate her voice from a short pre #MND 8 sec video clip She’s an amazing artist .I was the proud winner of this beautiful #eyegaze picture of hers at the communication matters conference some years back #augcomm

Sure we will have some really interesting conversations & shared learning around using @talkingmats in a #capacity context - plus participants will have an excellent bespoke TM capacity resource to help in practice #supporteddecisions #socialwork

This month’s research spotlight shines on Sweden , the Dart centre for #AAC &technology Their freely available paper describes how Talking Mats was used to explore the views & perspectives of children and young people on their speaking and reading activities #slcn #communicationdisability #dyslexia

Looking for SEND teachers and / or TAs to take part in my dissertation research study about the use of PECS! 📣 Please share if you can. Thank you! 😊 #bskySPEECHIES #slpeeps #slt #SEND #SENDfamily #paediatrics #education #PECS

On holiday in France, a useful ticket machine reminder of just _ONE_ reason why Heathrow expansion is a bad idea #ClimateEmergency

Always special to go to a colleague’s retirement celebration to thank him and cheer them on their way. Also great to see old friends & colleagues & to chat with the younger therapists and feel their talent and enthusiasm. The profession feels in safe hands, change is healthy and natural.

Generation Genocide: Israel has killed an entire school class of children every day in Gaza www.thecanary.co/global/world...

Two in five arrested for last summer’s UK riots had been reported for domestic abuse Police data indicates overlaps between public violent disorder and domestic violence and abuse www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

‘Handala’ was illegally boarded by Israel military in international waters, around 40 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza. Before interception the 21 crew made this statement: if attacked they will join the global hunger strike for Gaza.

As in The War of the Worlds, I'm hoping that the Scottish midgie will act like the bacteria that defeated the Martian invaders #TrumpScotland

It seems this suffering will never end. Will we remain hungry until we die, or will we try to escape the bombing while we are hungry? Please, we need you to stay alive. repost so the world can hear our voice. chuffed.org/project/save...

Tomorrow's front page 📰 Convicted US felon to arrive in Scotland

This is the ugly truth I don't know how long we can endure and endure. We no longer have the luxury of collapsing because many patients need us. We cannot continue without your help. chuffed.org/project/save...

Talking Mats – Capacity: enabling supported decision making Use Talking Mats to help with the most common decisions people face: what you do in your free time, where you live, your safety, and your support plan. This advanced course is for people already Talking Mats trained. #hscm #slcn

this is one of the worst crimes in human history and the entire global north and all of us in it share the responsibility

Excellent and chilling article on the proscribing of #Palestine Action www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...

The wildcat #bikepacking trail published today by mi yerno, Neema, (using a Spanish word we dont have english equivalent ) Amazing, well researched route in Scottish highlands . Please share with #cycle enthusiasts bikepacking.com/routes/the-w...

It's utterly mad. These people are the opposite of terrorists. THEY WANT PEACE. The police know they're not terrorists. The government knows they're not terrorists. Yet, on the Home Secretary's orders, they're being arrested under the Terrorism Act. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

At least 32 people were killed and more than 100 injured on Saturday when Israeli troops opened fire on crowds of Palestinians seeking food from two aid distribution hubs in southern Gaza, according to witnesses and hospital officials.

Lots of women on Palestine Edinburgh march. It’s the Gaza children being killed looking for food that’s breaking hearts and prompting so many mothers to turn up. No arrests despite thousands repeating same lines that prompted police action y’day. ⁦‪